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  • In contemporary world, corporate sector’s contribution in generating wealth and employment is increasing. In doing so, they are bringing in unprecedented onslaught on the climate, environmental sustainability and living conditions of human beings. In this background, do you find that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is efficient and sufficient enough to fulfill the social roles and responsibilities needed in the corporate world for which the CSR is mandated? Critically examine.

    CSR refers to the responsibility of companies to operate ethically, contribute to sustainable development, and minimise negative social and environmental impacts while pursuing profits.

    “The business of business is not just business.”

    The Paradox- Wealth Generation vs. Environmental Onslaught

    CSR fulfilling social role and responsibilities

    Mandatory Compliance in India (2% of profits) has channeled nearly into social sectors.

    Disaster Response- Eg- Reliance funded plants to produce medical oxygen during COVID.

    Innovation in Education- Eg- “Hole-in-the-wall” project by Sony and NIIT for computer literacy to slum children.

    Project Nanhi Kali (Mahindra Group) – Providing 10 years of academic support and material kits to underprivileged girls to reduce dropout rates.

    Healthcare Infrastructure- Eg- Vedanta’s “Nand Ghar” initiative for transforming Anganwadis into modern child welfare centers.

    Skill Development- Eg- Mahindra & Mahindra’s “Hunar” program for training in specialized technical skills.

    Kaushalya (Tata Motors) – Training unemployed youth using a “Learn and Earn” model.

    Sanitation & Water- Eg- ITC’s “Mission Sunehra Kal” for promoting “Climate Smart” agriculture through watershed development

    Transition to Renewable Energy- Eg- Adani Foundation’s projects for solar-powered rural electrification.

    Women Empowerment- Eg- HUL’s “Project Shakti” for creating a network of micro-entrepreneurs (“Shakti Ammas”) to sell hygiene products.

    Issues with CSR

    Greenwashing- Using CSR for PR. Eg- Coca-Cola’s “World Without Waste” campaign while being world’s top plastic polluter for years.

    Peripheral Activity- CSR is often a “side project”.

    Geographical Bias- concentrated in industrialized states, ignoring backward regions like Bihar or the Northeast.

    The “Checklist” Approach- focus on spending the money rather than the impact or outcome.

    Lack of Expertise, leading to poorly designed projects.

    CSR (2%) is a fraction of the cost of the “Externalities” the company causes

    Crony CSR- channeling funds into “in-house” foundations or politically connected NGOs.

    Difficulty in Measuring Impact- no universal standard to quantify the “Social Return on Investment” (SROI).

    A Way Forward

    ESG Integration in core investment and operational strategy.

    Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for the entire lifecycle of product. Eg- plastic waste management.

    Impact measurement through third-party ethical audits.

    Circular Economy- Shifting from “Take-Make-Dispose” model to “Reduce-Reuse-Recycle.”

    True sustainability requires Systems Change, where profit and planet are seen as mutually inclusive.

  • Apart from intellectual competency and moral qualities, empathy and compassion are some of the other vital attributes that facilitate the civil servants to be more competent in tackling the crucial issues or taking critical decisions. Explain with suitable illustrations.

    “The purpose of power is to serve, not to rule.” To adhere to this ethos, civil servants needs combination of IQ, ethics and compassion.

    Intellectual Competency

    Analytical Ability- Eg- V.K. Pandian (IAS) used data analytics in sports governance in Odisha.

    Technological Literacy- Eg- J. Satyanarayana (IAS) pioneered the ‘e-Seva’ project

    Domain Expertise- Eg- Dr. M. S. Swaminathan (Green Revolution)

    Professionalism. Eg- Sreedhran

    Legal Acumen. Eg- S.R. Sankaran (IAS) used land laws to restore land to marginalized tribals.

    Communication Skills

    Innovation- Eg- IAS Prashant Nair used crowdfunding for community kitchens

    Moral Qualities

    Integrity- Eg- C.G. Somiah (IAS)– unblemished career as the CAG of India.

    Fortitude- Eg- U. Sagayam (IAS), spent a night in a graveyard to protect evidence in a mining scam.

    Probity- Eg- Satyendra Dubey (IES) exposed corruption in the Golden Quadrilateral project.

    Accountability and transparency. Eg- Satish Dhawan taking blame for SLV-3 mission failure

    Impartiality- Eg- T.N. Seshan as CEC

    Selflessness- Eg- Randhir Prasad Verma (IPS) sacrificed his life while fighting armed robbers

    Importance of Empathy and Compassion

    Empathy helps in prioritizing utilitarian virtue of “greatest good” over self-interest.

    Humanizing the Rule of Law- Ensures rules don’t become tools of oppression. Eg- authorizing PDS ration for a poor with leprosy.

    Bridging the Trust Deficit- Compassion builds a bond between the state and the citizen.

    Conflict De-escalation (building social capital)- Eg- P. Vijayakumar (IPS) using empathetic negotiation to prevent communal flares in Coimbatore.

    Inclusive Infrastructure- Eg- Dr Nidhi Patel pioneering space lab for rural students in Bilaspur.

    Rehabilitation over Punishment- Eg- Kiran Bedi introduced Vipassana and education in Tihar.

    Resource Mobilization- A compassionate officer inspires others to give. Eg- Armstrong Pame (IAS) built a 100km “People’s Road” using crowdfunding

    Going beyond administrative duty to help others. Eg- Inayat Khan (IAS) adopted the daughters of CRPF martyrs

    Compassion guides in using discretionary powers in an ethical manner. Eg- delaying the demolition of encroachment until finalization of the rehabilitation plan.

    Vulnerability Mapping- Empathy helps civil servants to identify those who don’t have a “voice.” Eg- Tamboli Ayyaj building hospitals for Adivasi’s in maoist areas.

    Thus, empathy and compassion enable civil servants to convert authority into service and law into justice.

    Public/Civil Service Values

  • Wisdom lies in knowing what to reckon with and what to overlook. An officer being engrossed with the periphery, ignoring the core issues before him, is no rare in the bureaucracy. Do you agree that such preoccupation of an administrator leads to travesty of justice to the cause of effective service delivery and good governance? Critically evaluate.

    When a civil servant becomes a slave to periphery or “form,” administration becomes an end in itself, at the cost of the citizen it was meant to serve.
    Core Vs Periphery

    Preoccupation with periphery – travesty of justice

    Red-tapism over responsiveness- Eg- Munger-Ganga Bridge in Bihar was delayed by nearly 14 years due to inter-departmental disputes

    It is a “corruption of omission”– may be legally clean, but ethically bankrupt.

    Periphery breeds a “mechanical” mindset where officials lose empathy. Eg- denial of emergency care to critically ill patient without documentation

    Process compliance over public welfare. Eg- Eg- PDS exclusion of poor due to biometric authentication failures (Jharkhand case)

    Encourages moral abdication – Officials transfer moral responsibility to the rulebook (banality of evil). Eg- encroachment demolitions without rehabilitation plan.

    Facilitates coercive corruption. Eg- ‘speed money’ for faster file clearance

    It leads to Process becoming Punishment. Eg- complexity in environmental clearances

    “By-the-book” culture stifles innovation and creativity.

    Resource Wastage- Eg- cost and time overruns in PPP projects due to delays in land procurement

    Policy Paralysis- Fear of audit or the “3C” (CBI, CVC, CAG) leads to “Defensive Bureaucracy.”

    Adopting the “Karmayogi” Mindset- “solution-providers” rather than “file-pushers”.

    Institutionalizing Social Audits- Eg- Meghalaya social audit law

    Protection for Honest Discretion by amending Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

    Promoting “Co-Production”- Involving NGOs and SHGs to deliver services. Eg- Kudumbashree

    Application of Gandhi’s Talisman in decision making

    The ultimate goal of an administrator is to ensure that the “True Intent” of the Constitution – Justice, Liberty, and Equality – is delivered.

  • Write short notes on the following in 30 words each : (i) Constitutional morality (ii) Conflict of interest (iii) Probity in public life (iv) Challenges of digitalization (v) Devotion to duty

  • The Rules and Regulations provided to all the civil servants are same, yet there is difference in the performance. Positive minded officers are able to interpret the Rules and Regulations in favour of the case and achieve success, whereas negative minded officers are unable to achieve goals by interpreting the same Rules and Regulations against the case. Discuss with illustrations.

    In the realm of public administration, the rulebook provides the “Letter of the Law,” but the officer’s mindset provides the “Spirit of the Law.”

    Positive-Minded Officers- Interpreting Rules for Success

    Invoking “Residual Powers” for Innovation. Eg- IAS Prashant Nair used crowdfunding for community kitchens under Project Compassion in Kozhikode.

    Flexible during Emergencies. Eg- procuring cylinders via “Spot Purchase” clause during COVID 19

    Promoting “Ease of Doing Business”. Eg- Interpreting licensing norms to encourage entrepreneurship.

    Utilizing “Spirit of the Law” to uphold justice Eg- Allowing free treatment under government hospitals for undocumented homeless.

    Adherence to utilitarian principle of “greatest happiness” by creative rule interpretation. Eg- using MNREGA funds to build school playgrounds

    Environmental Stewardship using the “Precautionary Principle.” Eg- Halting a project near a wetland by interpreting “Ecological Sensitivity” broadly

    Humanizing Service Rules- Dealing with subordinates with empathy. Eg- Granting “Child Care Leave” to a single father

    Inclusive urban planning. Eg- Designating specific “Vending Zones” for street hawkers

    Active Conflict Resolution- Eg- Using “Section 144” to create a “Protected Space” for a peaceful dialogue between administration and aggrieved public.

    Negative-Minded Officers- Interpreting Rules Against the Case

    Suffers from “Bureaucratic Apathy” or “Status Quo Bias.” Eg- resistance to “E-Office” by citing vague “Data Privacy” concerns.

    Red Tapism- Eg- denying ration under PDS due to biometric error (Jharkhand case)

    “Passing the Buck”- Interpreting jurisdiction rules to avoid taking responsibility. Eg- delay in medical aid in inter-state border accidents

    Avoid transparency and accountability. Eg- invoking “National Security” clause to deny RTI

    Strict “Hierarchy” interpretation- Example- Refusing to meet a citizen delegation because they did not have a “Prior Appointment”.

    Focus on Punitive Action- Interpreting discipline rules solely for punishment.

    Obstructive Auditing- Using “Post-Facto” criticism to stall future initiatives.

    Resource Hoarding- Refusing to spend funds to avoid “Audit Objections.” Eg- consisting lapsing of Tribe Sub-plan funds

    There is need to shift from a “Command and Control” mindset to “Collaborate and Care” attitude for transforming civil services from “rusted” steel frame to “trusted steel frame”

    Emotional Intelligence

  • Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have the right to do and what is right to do.’-Potter Stewart .

    The statement highlights the tension between Law and Morality. While the law tells us what we are permitted to do without being punished, ethics tells us what we should do to be a person of character.

    Legal “Right” – It is an entitlement that protects our freedom of action.

    Ethical “Right” – It is a responsibility and compass that directs our actions toward the common good.

    Relevance in present context

    Freedom of Speech vs. Social Harmony – Responsible use of words to prevent harm to others.

    Corporate Profit vs. Environmental Stewardship – An ethical corporation chooses to invest in green technology to emit zero waste, even if it lowers their short-term profit. Eg- Patagonia

    While consumers have legal right to buy product of their choice, the right thing to do is practice consumerism and responsible consumption (SDG 12)

    Red Tapism vs Probity – A civil servant has administrative discretion to delay or deny services for documentation errors, but the right thing to do is practicing compassion and integrity.

    Professional rights vs. Moral Compass – A lawyer has a legal right to use a technicality to get a dangerous criminal acquitted. But ethics involves thinking about safety of society.

    Intellectual Property vs. Life-Saving Access – Pharma companies have the legal right to charge high prices for drugs. But the “right” thing to do is to share patents or lower prices to ensure the poor can survive. Eg- Jonas Salk not patenting Polio vaccine

    Financial Gain vs. Social Contribution – Adherence to Trusteeship principle by ensuring tax compliance.

    Professional Secrecy vs. Public Safety – While an employee has the legal right to remain silent about defect due to a signed Non-Disclosure Agreement, the right thing is to blow the whistle.

    Whistleblowing vs loyalty – Loyalty is right, exposing corruption is right thing.

    Media sensationalism vs dignity – while Media has freedom to report on sensational issues, right thing is to respect privacy and dignity of victims. Eg- Sushant Singh Rajput case

    Not voting in elections is legally allowed but ethically wrong. Eg- low turnouts in urban areas

    A minister has legal right to appoint any officer as secretary but the right thing to do is ensuring meritocracy

    Ethical societies are sustained not by rules alone, but by citizens and leaders who choose what is right even when they have the right not to.

  • “If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother and the teacher.” – Abdul Kalam.

    Corruption is not merely a legal or administrative failure, but a pedagogical and psychological one. Thus, moral character development of children through 3 key agents of socialization – father, mother and teacher, is imperative.

    The Role of the Triad in building “Beautiful Minds”

    Father

    Father is a bridge between the home and the world.

    Symbolises responsibility, discipline and ethical conduct in the public sphere.

    When children observe their father practising honesty, respecting the law, and rejecting shortcuts or corruption, they internalise these behaviours as normal and desirable.

    Eg- Naval Tata instilled the importance of ethical business, philanthropy and social responsibility in Ratan Tata.

    Mother

    Represents emotional nurturing, empathy and moral sensitivity. First teacher of emotional intelligence and selfless service.

    By teaching a child to share toys, care for the elderly, or speak the truth even when it’s difficult, she builds the “beauty” of the mind.

    Eg- Gandhiji’s mother, Putlibai’s deep religiosity, fasting, compassion and discipline shaped his moral life and non-violent philosophy.

    Teacher

    Shape how children think, reason and judge right from wrong.

    By encouraging critical thinking, ethical reflection and civic responsibility, teachers help creates future citizens who value truth, justice and accountability.

    Eg- Anand Kumar (founder of Super 30) transformed the lives of underprivileged students through ethical commitment to education.

    They addresses five key behavioral triggers-

    Fear- Removed by the Teacher through knowledge.

    Greed- Removed by the Mother through contentment.

    Apathy- Removed by the Father through social courage.

    Selfishness- Replaced by empathy through the home environment.

    Ignorance- Replaced by a “Beautiful Mind” that understands the long-term cost of short-term deceit.

    Dr. Kalam’s vision is a shift from Punitive Justice (punishing the corrupt) to Preventive Ethics (creating incorruptible citizens). For vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, citizens with “beauty” of integrity, selflessness and civic virtues is must.

  • “Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.” Dalai Lama.

  • Discuss the types of organised crimes. Describe the linkages between terrorists and organised crime that exist at the national and transnational levels.

    As per UNODC, organized crime is a continuing criminal enterprise that rationally works to profit from illicit activities that are often in great public demand.

    Types of Organised Crime

    Drug Trafficking (Narco-Trade)- Eg- Recent high-volume seizures of “Meth” in the Arabian Sea via the Makran Coast route.

    Illicit Arms Smuggling- Eg- The use of “Payload Drones” in Punjab to transport pistols and grenades from across the border.

    Human Trafficking- Forced labor and sexual exploitation. Eg- syndicates trafficking Indians to Southeast Asian “Cyber-Slavery” hubs.

    Money Laundering- The process of “cleansing” criminal proceeds. Eg- Use of Layering techniques via Shell companies and Virtual Digital Assets (Crypto).

    Cybercrime (Crime-as-a-Service)- Eg- The 2024 surge in “Digital Arrest” scams operated by transnational gangs.

    FICN (Counterfeiting)- Smuggling Fake Indian Currency Notes to trigger monetary instability.

    Contract Killings & Extortion- Use of violence to “tax” businesses. Eg- Bishnoi gang

    Environmental Crime- Eg- Illegal Red Sandalwood trade in the Seshachalam forests.

    National Level Linkages (Operational & Tactical)

    Infrastructure Sharing- Terrorists use established criminal “rat-lines” for the clandestine movement of personnel. Eg- use of drug networks for terrorist infiltration in J&K

    Logistics support – Eg- D-Company’s role in 1993 Bombay Blasts

    Resource Appropriation- Terror groups adopt criminal tactics like “Tiger Kidnapping” (kidnapping for ransom) to create immediate liquidity.

    Corruption of Local Governance- Both groups collaborate to “buy” local administrative silence, creating pockets of lawlessness.

    Transnational Level Linkages (Strategic & Financial)

    Narco-Terrorism- Terrorist groups taxing or controlling drug trade routes to finance global jihad. Eg- The Taliban using opium revenue from Afghanistan to fund operations.

    Global Hawala Networks- Terror funding is moved across borders using the same illegal financial networks established by crime syndicates.

    The “Black Hole” Effect- In “gray zones,” criminal and terror groups merge into a single entity. Eg- ISIS-K using illegal mining of talc to fund global operations.

    Specialized Alliances- Terrorists outsource technical needs to professional transnational syndicates. Eg- use Dark Net markets by LeT to receive “anonymous” donations.

    Transnational crime acts as a tool of “Grey Zone Warfare” by hostile neighbors to destabilize the economy via drug-pushing.

    Diversion of humanitarian aid in conflict zones (Sahel, Middle East) into the hands of organized terror groups via criminal intermediaries. (FATF report)

    The Crime-Terror nexus creates Black Hole of instability. Addressing this requires Whole-of-Government approach.

    Cyber Security

  • What are the maritime security challenges in India? Discuss the organisational, technical and procedural initiatives taken to improve the maritime security.

    11,098 km coastline, an Exclusive Economic Zone of over 2 million sq km, and over 95% of its trade by volume via sea, highlights the need for robust maritime security architecture

    Maritime Security Challenges in India

    The Indian ocean region is ‘New Hotbed’ of security threats – Fareed Zakaria

    Maritime Terrorism- Eg- the 26/11 Mumbai attacks

    Geopolitical Competition from China challenging India’s role as a “Net Security Provider.”

    “dual-use” ports like Hambantota (Sri Lanka) and Gwadar (Pakistan)

    Chinese spy ships in Indian Ocean (Tianwen I)

    Piracy and Armed Robbery-

    Somali piracy in the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea

    Houthi disruptions in the Red Sea

    Transnational Organized Crime- The “Golden Crescent” and “Golden Triangle” routes converge in the IOR. (MHA)

    Human Trafficking- Illegal migration routes across the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea.

    Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing- Eg- Large foreign deep-sea trawlers encroaching on India’s.

    Offshore Asset Vulnerability- Eg- Mumbai High oil rigs and the Great Nicobar Project from state and non-state sabotage.

    Nuclearization of IOR due to AUKUS

    Rising sea levels and the increasing frequency of “Super Cyclones” threaten critical coastal infrastructure. Eg- naval bases and nuclear plants.

    IOR emerging as theater of great-power rivalry – Eg- US-UK base in Diego Garcia

    Initiatives to Improve Maritime Security

    Organisational Initiatives

    Bureau of Port Security (BoPS) for unified regulatory oversight for port and ship security

    National Maritime Security Coordinator (NMSC) to improve coordination between the Navy, Coast Guard, and various ministries.

    Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) as a global hub for real-time information sharing on “White Shipping.”

    Three-Tiered Security Architecture- *

    Indian Navy- Deep-sea and International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).

    Indian Coast Guard (ICG)- Intermediate waters and EEZ (up to 200 nm).

    Marine Police- Coastal waters (up to 12 nm).

    Technical Initiatives

    Coastal Surveillance Network (CSN) Phase-II- Completion of a chain of 46 static radar stations and AIS (Automatic Identification System).

    Mandatory installation of NavIC-enabled Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) on all fishing vessels.

    Induction of MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones for surveillance of sensitive chokepoints.

    Utilization of ISRO’s GSAT-7 series (Rukmini) for “dark vessel” tracking.

    Project 75I – for more indigenous scorpian class submarine

    Procedural Initiatives

    Indian Maritime Doctrine 2025- formally recognizes “No-War, No-Peace” as a distinct operational category, emphasizing readiness for grey-zone conflicts.

    MAHASAGAR (2025)- fostering security partnerships with IOR littoral states.

    Exercise Sea Vigil- to test the “SOPs” of over 15 different agencies.

    Issuance of biometric ID cards to over 300,000 fishermen.

    A proactive Maritime Domain Awareness is needed for resilient “Blue Economy” and “maritime surakshit Bharat”.

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